Fence post with fence wire tensioning mechanism

ABSTRACT

A fence post for a wire mesh fence consisting of a steel channel section in which a plurality of tensioning devices for tightening and holding of the horizontally extending wires of the mesh is located. Provision is made for inserting the channel section into a hollow tubular steel envelope for protecting the posts and their mechanisms from adverse weather.

[451 Feb. 20, 1973 United States Patent 1 Schmidt et al.

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Cyrille Vanoverberghe, Bourbourg, France [73] Assignee: N.V. Bekaert S.A.,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ll/1962 Belgium 2,516 9/1862 Great Britain.t............. ..........256/43 Zwevegem,

Belgium [22] Filgd: March 4, 1970 Primary ExaminerDennis L. Taylor [21] AppL No; 16,221 Attorney-Sparrow and Sparrow a fzm m .mn m sf MO cW l em nu kn. a m m 6W .w w. m r. .U

C he S mil m m wh nc .md m AS 4 /N4 3 l .h "4 on E. "1 m WWO 4 6 n5 m l mh 6 "r ""8 "m L I s rm UIF T H o o 555 devices for tightening and holding of the horizontally extending wires of the mesh is located. Provision is made for inserting the channel section into a hollow [56] References Cited tubular steel envelope for protecting the posts and their mechanisms from adverse weather.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 429,244 6/1890 McCarthy 15 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIED FEB 2 01975 SHEET 10F 3 INVENTORS E 'U kkmaat BYk r\\\e varmverbepgke ATTORNEYS PATENTEDFEBZO I973 SHEET 2 OF 3 ATTORNEYS FENCE POST WITH FENCE WIRE TENSIONING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to wire mesh fences in general and to fence posts with wire tensioning devices therein in particular. Fence enclosures for enclosing properties are known, with fence posts on which a net of horizontal wires are fixed, either independent and parallel wires or such which are incorporated in a wire mesh or in a wire fabric web. In these cases the horizontal wires whether they are built in a wire meshwork or not, must be tightened at the ends of the fence enclosure in order to give them the necessary rigidity for preventing them from being overturned by the wind or by an impact of any body which would not belong to the enclosed property. When these horizontal wires do not constitute an integral part of the wire mesh, they are attached by straps and get the necessary rigidity by the tension applied thereto.

Many devices for tensioning of horizontally extending wires exist. In general, individual spanners located at the ends of the wires are in use, positioned at a certain distance from the end posts. This does not only detract from the esthetic appearance of the fence enclosure, but also requires a special individual attachment of every spanner to the next fence post. It has further been suggested that a rotatable shaft be inserted into the interior of every end post for tensioning simultaneously all wires of a meshwork which are individually inserted in the post through separate holes.

However, such a simultaneous tensioning of all horizontal wires of a wire meshwork, although it constitutes progress, does not always respond to the requirements of an effective enclosure and it sometimes appears necessary to be able to control individually the tension of each horizontal wire. It is particularly desirable to be in the position to apply to the longitudinal wires of the upper and lower seams an increased tension over the rest of the intermediate wires of the net, and to be able to control individually the tension of each one of these seam wires. This invention offers a solution to this problem.

SUMMARY The invention consists in such novel feature, construction arrangements, combination of parts and improvement as may be shown and described by way of examples only and as illustrative of preferred embodiments.

A basic concept of the invention is to provide a steel channel section in which a plurality of parallel horizontal spanner shafts are rotatably located, each one of which having a means for rotating the same and a further means for locking it in position. In one mode of embodiment the channel section is open and uncovered and is erected on a base plate or is fixed by other means in the ground. In another embodiment of the invention the steel channel section is located and fixed in a hollow tubular post body which has holes for the individual passing of each of the wires to be tensioned and for the inserting of the tool for operating each of the spanners. Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereafter and in part will be obvious herefrom or may be learned by practicing the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fence post for a wire mesh fence or the like, which has a plurality of devices arranged therein in spaced relationship to one another for individually tensioning each one of the various horizontally extending wires of the fence.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence post with individual wire tensioning means, which is enclosed in a protective hollow tubular body.

A further object of the invention is to provide an enclosure consisting of a network of horizontal wires which are individually tensioned by spanner devices in an improved fence post embodying the invention.

Various further and more specific purposes, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and illustrate merely by way of examples embodiments of the device of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following description and in the claims, parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but such names are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit. Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing, in which FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a corner of an enclosure with fence posts embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a corner post;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one of the spanners with tightening and locking means in the corresponding channel section, shown in isometric view;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section of the device shown in FIG. 3, taken along the centerline X-X;

FIG. 5 is a view of a comer post according to another embodiment of the invention, shown in isometric perspective;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a further embodiment of the fence post, partly broken away for showing the interior structure thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a cross section of the fence post shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in more detail to the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments by which the invention may be realized, there is shown in FIG. 1 a corner of fencing enclosure encompassing two sides of a piece of property, the portions of the fencing being at a right angle to each other. The enclosure, fence or barrier comprises a corner post P and an end post P at each end of the borders of the property being enclosed, one post P, only being shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing. Two wire meshes T and T are tensioned between these posts, each of these meshes consisting of a network of tensioned horizontal wires and comprising an upper seam wire 1, a lower seam wire 2 and intermediate wires 3 and a network of vertical wires 4, attached to the horizontal wires by welding or like method.

Post I, (FIG. 1 and 2) consists of two metal channel sections Saand 5b, joined in such manner that the web of section 5a is positioned against one of the flanges of section 5b so that the open sides thereof are directed in the direction of wire mesh T, and T respectively. They are set on a common base plate 6, to which they are attached by welding 7. Base plate 6 has holes 8 for the fastening thereof to the ground by means of plugs or by similar means. It is also possible to provide plugs at the ends of each section 5a and 5b for sinking the posts directly into the ground.

Post P, has two diagonal struts 9 and 10, having base plates 11 and 12, respectively, for the purpose of assuring stability of the post and resistance to tension forces of the wire meshes T and T acting in the direction of the arrows f and f Each end post P consists of a metal channel section 50, firmly set up by some suitable means of fixation to the ground, for example, by a base plate 13 and diagonal strut 14 having a base plate 15, for the purpose of resisting the tension force f exerted by the wire mesh T,.

Each of the channel sections 50, 5b, 5c has for every wire 1, 2, or 3 of wire mesh T, and T an individual spanner indicated by the numeral 16 (FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). Each of the spanners 16 consists of a member 17 the major part of which is cylindrical and is disposed for winding a wire thereon, for example, wire 1 for tensioning thereof. Member 17 has also a diametrical hole 18 through which the end of wire 1 can be inserted with respect to the winding thereof by rotating member 17 about the longitudinal axis X-X thereof. Member 17 is arranged for turning in two holes 19 provided in the flanges of channel section 5. Holes 19 have an oblong shape in the horizontal direction thereof, for permitting member 17 to be laterally displaced perpendicularly to axis X-X or to swing slightly in a horizontal plane.

Member 17 has at one of its ends a head 20 formed by machining the head 20 to the shape of a ratchet 21. Head 20 holds member 17 axially in place with respect to channel section 5 by being located between the outside 22 (FIG. 4) of one of the flanges of channel 5 and an end plate 23 which is fixed on this flange by screws 24 and nuts 25; a spacer 26 is disposed for permitting free rotation of ratchet 21 and for providing at the same time a one-tooth pawl 27 engaging ratchet 20. The release of the teeth of ratchet 21 is rendered possible although pawl 26, 27 is not movable, by the horizontal translatory displacement of member 17 or by the swinging thereof in the direction of arrow f (FIG. 4) due to the oblong shape of holes 19.

Member 17 extends with its other end beyond the other flange of channel section 5, in the shape of a square end 28 for rotating said member in the direction of arrow f (FIG. 3) for winding wire thereon and the tensioning of same.

It can be seen that no difficulty is encountered in erecting the enclosure. When posts P, and P, are suitably set up and firmly secured in the ground, each of the wire meshes T, and T, are attached and stretched by inserting individually each of wires 1, 2, and 3 into hole 18 of member 17 of the corresponding spanner l6 and by tensioning each of these wires up to the desired degree with the aid of a wrench on square portion 28 of corresponding member 17, by rotating the same in the direction of arrow f (FIG. 3). The rotation is continued tooth by tooth of ratchet 20 whereby each tooth clears the tooth 27 of pawl 26 on account of a slight displacement of member 17 in the direction of arrow f, in the oblong holes l9.

It can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the latching mechanism of the spanners of post P in channel section 512 are placed in channel section 50 against the web thereof, whereby members 17 have sufficient length for extending through the flange of channel 5b and the attached web of channel 50.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 which show another embodiment of the invention, the corner post R, has diagonal struts 9 and 10 and base plates 6, 11, and 12. Steel channel sections 5a and Sb are positioned in a body of a hollow tubular post 30 of preferably square section. They are kept in place against the faces 31 and 32 by means of supporting screws 33 and 34 which are screwed into the threaded holes 35 and 36 of channel sections 5a and 5b and which are backed against the internal faces 37 and 38 of the body of post 30. Each of the channels 50 and 5b may be supported at their lower end by a protrusion of base plate 6, for example, by a tubular protrusion 39 which may be attached to base plate 6 by welding or by any other suitable means. Each of the channels 5a and 5b is equipped with their span ners 16 which may preferably consist of the type described above and which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The outer body 30 of the entire post has for every spanner a hole 40 with a bushing 41 for passing the corresponding wire therethrough for being tensioned, and has further another hole 42 with a plug 43 for entering a tool therethrough, after taking plug 43 off, for engaging square end 28 of the respective spanner. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the upper end of post body 30 can be covered with a decorative lid 44.

The function of post P is identical with the one with respect to the previously described embodiment. Post P is more expensive but it presents a considerably improved esthetic appearance by the provision of body 30 and lid 44, both of which cover the assembly. Beyond the improved esthetic appearance, body 30 and lid 44 provide an added resistance against corrosive atmospheric conditions, which resistance may be increased by covering the wire mesh with plastic. It may not be possible to apply such covering to spanner elements and their accessories which frequently are made of galvanized material. Even by using various covering materials complete protection cannot be attained for those enclosure elements which have the least longevity and which are liable to foul or disintegrate. By plac ing these elements inside post I this disadvantage is overcome.

Any type of suitable material may be used. Basically, the posts may consist of galvanized iron or of steel with a coating that resists inclement weather; decorative bodies 30 of the second embodiment may perhaps consist of plastic material because bodies 30 do not participate in the mechanical resistance of the posts.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided as an embodiment of the invention, a fence post suitable for a corner of an area to be enclosed which comprises two U-shaped channelled support members 5a and 5b, each of the members having opposite walls, a wall or web connecting the opposite walls, and an opening opposite the connecting wall or web; the connecting wall of one of the support mems bers being secured to one of the opposite walls of the other support member, whereby said openings are disposed at a right angle to each other, the shafts or spanners being rotatively disposed in each of the support members across the opposite walls and being adapted to receive end portions of fence wires respectively through the openings. Furthermore, there are posts, for example, P spaced from the corner posts, each of the said P posts comprising an individual U- shaped channelled member similar to one of the channelled members embodied in the corner post.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to certain preferred embodiments which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the principle of the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A fence post for an enclosure with a wire mesh having wires, said post comprising at least one support member having at least one wall, a plurality of individual shafts connected to said member and rotatable about parallel axes, means on said shaft for rotating said shaft by applying a tool thereto, and means for locking said shaft in position, said locking means comprising ratchet means and pawl means cooperating with said ratchet means, said pawl means being attached to an adjacent wall of said member, said pawl means being immovable, said support members having elongated holes in said walls for rotation of said shafts, said holes being disposed for lateral displacement of said shaft for releasing said ratchet means from engagement with said pawl means through displacement of said shafts in said elongated holes; and a hollow body enveloping said support member, said hollow body having a plurality of holes for the individual passing of each of said wires for tensioning the same and for inserting said tool for rotating each of said shafts.

2. A fence post for an enclosure with a wire mesh having wires, said post comprising at least one support member having at least one wall, a plurality of individual shafts connected to said member and rotatable about parallel axes, means on said shaft for rotating said shaft by applying a tool thereto, and means for locking said shaft in position, said locking means comprising ratchet means and pawl means cooperating with said ratchet means, said pawl means being attached to an adjacent wall of said member, said pawl means being immovable, said support members having elongated holes in said walls for rotation of said shafts, said holes being disposed for lateral displacement of said shaft for releasing said ratchet means from engagement with said pawl means through displacement of said shafts in said elongated holes; and a hollow body covering said support member.

3. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 2, wherein said post comprises two channelled support members, each of said members having opposite walls, a wall connecting said opposite walls and an opening opposite said connecting wall; said connecting wall of said support members being secured to one of said opposite walls of the other of said support members whereby said openings are disposed at a right angle to each other, said shafts being disposed in each of said support members across said opposite walls, said shafts being adapted to receive end portions of said wires, respectively, through said openings.

4. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 2, and a base plate for said support member, said plate having means for securing the same to the ground.

5. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 3, and means for maintaining said support members in fixed position in said hollow body.

6. A fence post according to claim 3, and means for fixing said post to the ground.

7. A fence post according to claim 6, and strut means for said channelled support members.

8. A fence post according to claim 2, and means for fixing said post to the ground.

9. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 2, said support member being substantially U-shaped in cross-section providing opposite walls, a wall connect ing said opposite walls and an opening opposite said connecting wall; said shafts being disposed in said support member across said opposite walls, said shafts being adapted to receive end portions of said wires, respectively, through said opening.

10. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 2, wherein said means for rotating said shafts comprises an extension of said shafts for applying a wrench thereto, said ratchet having teeth and said pawl cooperating with said teeth, said pawl being attached to one of said walls of said member.

11. The arrangement according to claim 2, including longitudinally disposed spaced wires and support members; each of said support members being substantially U-shaped in cross-section providing opposite walls, a wall connecting said opposite walls, an opening opposite said connecting wall, said shafts being rotatably disposed about parallel axes in said support member across said opposite walls; the shafts in each of said support members receiving the end portions of said wires at respective sides of said fence through respective openings in said support members.

12. A fence enclosure according to claim 2, each of said shafts being rotated for tensioning the wire connected thereto.

13. A fence enclosure according to claim 12, each of said shafts being rotated for locking said wire after being tensioned.

14. A fence post for an enclosure with a wire mesh having wires, said post comprising at least one support member having at least one wall, a plurality of individual shafts connected to said member and rotatable about parallel axes, means on said shaft for rotating said shaft by applying a tool thereto, and means for locking said shaft in position, said locking means comprising ratchet means and pawl means cooperating with said ratchet means, said pawl means being attached to an adjacent wall of said member, said pawl means being immovable, said support members having elongated holes in said walls for rotation of said shafts, said holes being disposed for lateral displacement of said shaft for releasing said ratchet means from engagement with said pawl means through displacement of said shafts in said elongated holes, said means for rotating said shafts comprising an extension of said shafts for applying a wrench thereto, said ratchet having teeth and said pawl cooperating with said teeth, said pawl being attached to one of said walls of said member, there being two support members, and a tubular post body enveloping said support members, said tubular post body having a plurality of holes for individually passing each of said wires for tensioning of the same and for insertion of said wrench for rotating each of said shafts.

15. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 14, and threaded means inside said tubular post body for immovably fixing each of said support members in -said body. 

1. A fence post for an enclosure with a wire mesh having wires, said post comprising at least one support member having at least one wall, a plurality of individual shafts connected to said member and rotatable about parallel axes, means on said shaft for rotating said shaft by applying a tool thereto, and means for locking said shaft in position, said locking means comprising ratchet means and pawl means cooperating with said ratchet means, said pawl means being attached to an adjacent wall of said member, said pawl means being immovable, said support members having elongated holes in said walls for rotation of said shafts, said holes being disposed for lateral displacement of said shaft for releasing said ratchet means from engagement with said pawl means through displacement of said shafts in said elongated holes; and a hollow body enveloping said support member, said hollow body having a plurality of holes for the individual passing of each of said wires for tensioning the same and for inserting said tool for rotating each of said shafts.
 1. A fence post for an enclosure with a wire mesh having wires, said post comprising at least one support member having at least one wall, a plurality of individual shafts connected to said member and rotatable about parallel axes, means on said shaft for rotating said shaft by applying a tool thereto, and means for locking said shaft in position, said locking means comprising ratchet means and pawl means cooperating with said ratchet means, said pawl means being attached to an adjacent wall of said member, said pawl means being immovable, said support members having elongated holes in said walls for rotation of said shafts, said holes being disposed for lateral displacement of said shaft for releasing said ratchet means from engagement with said pawl means through displacement of said shafts in said elongated holes; and a hollow body enveloping said support member, said hollow body having a plurality of holes for the individual passing of each of said wires for tensioning the same and for inserting said tool for rotating each of said shafts.
 2. A fence post for an enclosure with a wire mesh having wires, said post comprising at least one support member having at least one wall, a plurality of individual shafts connected to said member and rotatable about parallel axes, means on said shaft for rotating said shaft by applying a tool thereto, and means for locking said shaft in position, said locking means comprising ratchet means and pawl means cooperating with said ratchet means, said pawl means being attached to an adjacent wall of said member, said pawl means being immovable, said support members having elongated holes in said walls for rotation of said shafts, said holes being disposed for lateral displacement of said shaft for releasing said ratchet means from engagement with said pawl means through displacement of said shafts in said elongated holes; and a hollow body covering said support member.
 3. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 2, wherein said post comprises two channelled support members, each of said members having opposite walls, a wall connecting said opposite walls and an opening opposite said connecting wall; said connecting wall of said support members being secured to one of said opposite walls of the other of said support members whereby said openings are disposed at a right angle to each other, said shafts being disposed in each of said support members across said opposite walls, said shafts being adapted to receive end portions of said wires, respectively, through said openings.
 4. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 2, and a base plate for said support member, said plate having means for securing the same to the ground.
 5. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 3, and means for maintaining said support members in fixed position in said hollow body.
 6. A fence post according to claim 3, and means for fixing said post to the ground.
 7. A fence post according to claim 6, and strut means for said channelled support members.
 8. A fence post according to claim 2, and means for fixing said post to the ground.
 9. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 2, said support member being substantially U-shaped in cross-section providing opposite walls, a wall connecting said opposite walls and an opening opposite said connecting wall; said shafts being disposed in said support member across said opposite walls, said shafts being adapted to receive end portions of said wires, respectively, through said opening.
 10. A fence post for an enclosure according to claim 2, wherein said means for rotating said shafts comprises an extension of said shafts for applying a wrench thereto, said ratchet having teeth and said pawl cooperating with said teeth, said pawl being attached to one of said walls of said member.
 11. The arrangement according to claim 2, including longitudinally disposed spaced wires and support members; each of said support members being substantially U-shaped in cross-section providing opposite walls, a wall connecting said opposite walls, an opening opposite said connecting wall, said shafts being rotatably disposed about parallel axes in said support member across said opposite walls; the shafts in each of said support members receiving the end portions of said wires at respective sides of said fence through respective openings in said support members.
 12. A fence enclosure according to claim 2, each of said shafts being rotated for tensioning the wire connected thereto.
 13. A fence enclosure according to claim 12, each of said shafts being rotated for locking said wire after being tEnsioned.
 14. A fence post for an enclosure with a wire mesh having wires, said post comprising at least one support member having at least one wall, a plurality of individual shafts connected to said member and rotatable about parallel axes, means on said shaft for rotating said shaft by applying a tool thereto, and means for locking said shaft in position, said locking means comprising ratchet means and pawl means cooperating with said ratchet means, said pawl means being attached to an adjacent wall of said member, said pawl means being immovable, said support members having elongated holes in said walls for rotation of said shafts, said holes being disposed for lateral displacement of said shaft for releasing said ratchet means from engagement with said pawl means through displacement of said shafts in said elongated holes, said means for rotating said shafts comprising an extension of said shafts for applying a wrench thereto, said ratchet having teeth and said pawl cooperating with said teeth, said pawl being attached to one of said walls of said member, there being two support members, and a tubular post body enveloping said support members, said tubular post body having a plurality of holes for individually passing each of said wires for tensioning of the same and for insertion of said wrench for rotating each of said shafts. 